Device and method for wrappping unit loads or packaged goods

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an improved device and method for wrapping unit loads or packaged goods ( 3 ) using an at least approximately hood-shaped, elastic section of film ( 25 ) which is gathered into folds ( 26 ), stretched, and then pulled over the unit load or packed goods ( 3 ). The gathered film section ( 25 ) is stretched by means of a covering element ( 1 ) which can be displaced along the unit load or packaged goods ( 3 ), and is pulled over the unit load or packaged goods ( 3 ). Generally, the covering device ( 1 ) can comprise four tensioning fingers ( 2 ) which can be moved in the plane perpendicular to the covering direction ( 5 ) and respectively comprise a bow-shaped tensioning element ( 4 ) extending essentially in said plane and a bow-shaped supporting element ( 6 ) which is fixed to the tensioning element and extends essentially in the covering direction ( 5 ), such that the gathered film section ( 25 ) is received in the regions respectively corresponding to the corners of the unit load or packaged goods ( 3 ) to be wrapped, and is then pulled over the unit load or packaged goods ( 3 ).

The invention relates to an apparatus for wrapping a one- or multi-partload with at least one elastic foil hood that is gathered into folds andstretched and subsequently pulled over the one- or multi-part load, thegathered foil hood being stretched and pulled down by means of apull-down device movable along the one- or multi-part load, and wherebythe pull-down device has four tensioning fingers that are movable inplanes perpendicular to a pull-down direction and that each have abow-shaped tensioning element lying in this plane and, secured to it, abow-shaped brace element extending generally in the pull-down directionin order to be able to take on the gathered foil hood in the respectivecorners of the one- or multi-part load to be wrapped and to pull it downover the one- or multi-part load.

In one type of the known apparatus for wrapping, the folding of the foilthat is normally closed at one end is effected by gathering right on thepull-down device. The pull-down device has spreadable tensioningcorners, whereby preferably in each corner region of the pull-downdevice there is a respective gathering roller and an opposite counterroller paired together and both rotatable about horizontal axes. Afterengagement of the pull-down device into the foil hood, the foil hood istensioned between the counter rollers and the gathering rollers and thegathering rollers are rotated to form the folds. After thefold-formation the tensioning corners are spread apart so that the foilhood is stretched so that it can subsequently be drawn over the one- ormulti-part load. To this end the pull-down device is dropped over theone- or multi-part load so that the foil hood engages the top of theone- or multi-part load and is thus stopped. During downward movementthe folds that run around the foil hood are progressively pulled off sothat then the pull-down device reaches its lowermost position, theentire foil hood has no more folds and the one- or multi-part load andif necessary the underlying pallet are wrapped.

In order to avoid that during stretching of the foil hood it is pulledoff the tensioning corners, it is gripped between the gathering wheelsand the counter rolls. The disadvantage of this is that the foil hood isonly held in a very limited region so that the foil hood can only besufficiently stretched at its upper region, as otherwise the foil hoodwould be damaged.

In another type of the known apparatus there is a gathering deviceseparate from the pull-down device. The foil hood is gathered by thegathering device and then is taken over by a separate movable pull-downdevice. The pull-down device has in the corner regions rod-shapedholding elements directed in the pull-down direction and serving to holdthe gathered foil hood taken over from the gathering device. The foilhood is subsequently stretched by spreading of the holding elements andthe pull-down device is shifted downward along the one- or multi-partload for pulling-down. The disadvantage of this is that duringstretching the foil hood is not solidly gripped so that the foil hoodcannot be sufficiently stretched since it would slip partly off theholding elements.

It is an object of the invention to improve on an apparatus as describedabove so that the upper region of the foil hood can be stretched more.

This object is attained in that at least one of the tensioning fingersis provided with a jaw-like holding device that is engageable shortlybefore reaching an end position externally at least partially around inthe region of last fold to be pulled over the one- or multi-part loadshortly before reaching the pull-down position, in particular in theunfolded region of the foil hood adjacent this fold, and that clamp theregions of the foil hood to the tensioning fingers during stretching.Before stretching, the holding device is engaged from outside at leastin the region of the one- or multi-part load before the pull-down devicereaches its lowermost position on the uppermost fold to be drawn overthe one- or multi-part load, in particular on the unfolded regionadjacent this fold, so that the foil hood is held solidly between theholding device and the tensioning finger. In this manner the foil hoodcan be more greatly stretched in the head top region.

Since stretching in the pull-down direction on the one- or multi-partload of nearly the entire foil hood and if necessary stretching in thepull-down direction is desired, the holding devices can be pressedinwardly preferably against the folds not yet pulled off the tensioningfingers and down over the one- or multi-part load. This holding in theregion of the open end of the foil hood stretches the foil hood more inthe pull-down direction when it is nearly fully installed and tightensit.

Preferably there is one such holding device on two diagonally opposedtensioning fingers. It is also perfectly possible to provide one suchholding device on each tensioning finger.

The holding device has a shape corresponding generally to an outsidesurface of the respective tensioning finger in a contact region betweenthe tensioning finger and the holding device. In this manner the maximumsurface is gripped between the holding device and its tensioning fingerso that considerable stretch can be imparted in the top region. At thesame time the foil hood can be more tightly stretched or tensioned inthe pull-down direction shortly before the end of the pull-downoperation.

The surface of the holding device engageable with the foil hood can bearcuate.

The holding device can be movable in a plane perpendicular to thepull-down direction.

The holding device can be displaceable by a pivotal positioning lever inthe direction of the respective tensioning finger. To this end forexample guide slides can be provided that permit movement parallel totwo adjacent side faces of the one- or multi-part load. It is alsohowever possible that the holding devices move purely in straight linesor in a combination of the two movements.

The holding device can be displaced by a pivotal positioning lever inthe direction of the respective tensioning finger. Here it is preferablethat the holding device be pivotal on the positioning lever so that theholding device can fit optimally with the outside surface of thetensioning finger. It is also preferable when the holding device is onlylimitedly pivotal relative to its positioning lever in order to avoidthat when the holding device is moved toward its tensioning finger itgets canted and does not engage with its surface against the foil hood.The positioning lever can for example be moved hydraulically orpneumatically. Other drives as, for example, electrical, are possible.

In order to increase the holding effect at least surfaces of the holdingdevice engageable with the foil hood have a friction-increasing surface.

The surface can have a friction-increasing coating.

In order to avoid damage to the foil hood, the surface has a softcoating, in particular sponge rubber.

It is also perfectly possible for the surface to have alternating raisedand recessed regions.

So long as the pull-down device is provided only for pulling down andstretching, a separate gathering device is provided for independentgathering. The subsequent stretching of the foil hood and pulling itdown over the one- or multi-part load takes place separately from thegathering device by the pull-down device movable separate from thegathering device along the one- or multi-part load. In this manner it ispossible that the gathering device can be stretching another hood whilethe previous hood is being pulled down over the one- or multi-part load.

Preferably surfaces of the holding device engageable with the foil hoodcorrespond to the minimal contact surface needed to avoid damaging thefoil hood during stretching taking into account the technical featuresand characteristics of the foil hood as well as the amount of stretch.The “technical features” and characteristics are for example thethickness, the elasticity, and the stretchability of the foil hood thatinfluence the minimal necessary holding surface in order to avoiddamage. Under some circumstances also the shape, the size, or thecomposition of the one- or multi-part load influences the size of theminimal necessary holding surface.

An object of the invention is also a method of wrapping a one- ormulti-part load with at least one elastic foil hood that is gatheredinto folds and stretched and subsequently pulled over the one- ormulti-part load, the gathered foil hood being stretched and pulled downby means of a pull-down device movable along the one- or multi-partload, and whereby the pull-down device has four tensioning fingers thatare movable in planes perpendicular to a pull-down direction and thateach have a bow-shaped tensioning element lying in this plane and,secured to it, a bow-shaped brace element extending generally in thepull-down direction in order to be able to take on the gathered foilhood in the respective corners of the one- or multi-part load to bewrapped and to pull it down over the one- or multi-part load.

The disadvantage of this known method is that the foil hood is notsufficiently stretched before being pulled down in the head region, thatis in the region farthest from the one- or multi-part load only shortlybefore reaching the bottom reversing position, since the foil hood cancome loose in this region during stretching by the tensioning fingers.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide an improved methodwhereby the head region of the foil hood is stretched more.

This object is attained in that at least one of the tensioning fingersis provided with a jaw-like holding device that is engageable shortlybefore reaching an end position externally at least partially around inthe region of the last fold to be pulled over the one- or multi-partload shortly before reaching the pull-down position, in particular inthe unfolded region of the foil hood adjacent this fold, and that clampthe regions of the foil hood to the tensioning fingers duringstretching, at least one holding device being pressed with therespective tensioning finger against the foil hood before stretching ofthe foil hood and being separated from the foil hood after contact ofthe foil hood with the one- or multi-part load. The clamping actionprevents the foil hood from coming unintentionally off the clampingfingers during stretching so that it is possible to impart considerablestretch.

Preferably at least one holding device is brought back against therespective tensioning finger to hold the foil hood after pulling-off ofthe folds shortly before separation of the foil hood from the holdingdevice. Pressing the holding device back against the tensioning fingersshortly before the end of the pull-down operation stretches the foilhood in the pull-down direction and, if desired, also tensions it, sothat considerable vertical stretch can be imparted. Afterward theholding devices are again pulled off the foil hood and the pull-downdevice is returned back up to its starting position.

An object of the invention is also a method of wrapping a one- ormulti-part load with at least one elastic foil hood that is gatheredinto folds and stretched and subsequently pulled over the one- ormulti-part load, the gathered foil hood being stretched and pulled downby means of a pull-down device movable along the one- or multi-partload, the pull-down device having four tensioning fingers that aremovable in planes perpendicular to a pull-down direction and that eachhave a bow-shaped tensioning element lying in this plane and, secured toit, a bow-shaped brace element extending generally in the pull-downdirection in order to be able to take on the gathered foil hood in therespective corners of the one- or multi-part load to be wrapped and topull it down over the one- or multi-part load.

In order that the gathered and stretched foil hood can be pulled overthe one- or multi-part load easily and without damage, the foil hood isgathered like a bellows. After the gathering operation the folds shouldbe oriented pointing downward and outward toward the one- or multi-partload to be wrapped. Only this uniform orientation of the folds ensures asubsequent problem-free pulling-off of the foil hood, since then thefolds will be pulled one at time from the pull-down device.

A disadvantage of the known method is that the folds are not alwaysoriented perfectly uniformly. More often the folds are in some placesmore or less randomly oriented. The uncontrolled formation of folds cantake place during the gathering operation or even during stretching.

When the folds do not have the desired orientation, the next fold to bepulled off in the next step is partially if not completely covered andthus held and retained by the adjacent fold. This condition can lead todamaging of the foil hood and holes can be formed in the foil hood. Thisdanger is particularly great with very thin foil hoods since then thefoil is easily ripped when being pulled or with a one- or multi-partload of great height since a longer foil hood must be gathered and thereare more folds.

It is an object of the invention to improve on the above-describedmethod in that during the pull-down operation even with nonoptimal foldsdamage to the foil hood is avoided.

This object is attained in that the gathered foil hood to be pulled downover the one- or multi-part load in a first step is stretched to a firstgreat amount and in a second step the stretching of the foil hood duringthe pull-down operation of the gathered foil hood over the one- ormulti-part load is reduced somewhat but still maintained enough topermit the pulling down.

Thus the foil hood is initially in the first step stretched much morethan would normally be done by the standard method. Prior-art stretchingis normally kept as small as possible and is set for the minimumnecessary for carrying out the method. In order to achieve this minimalstretching with the know method the foil hood is only stretched enoughto produce clearance of 3 to 5 cm on all sides between the one- ormulti-part load and the foil hood.

According to the method of this invention the foil hood is firststretched so much in a first step that a clearance of 6 to 10 cm isproduced on all sides between the one- or multi-part load and the foilhood. More stretching is even possible.

As a result of the subsequent reduction of stretching of the foil hoodin a second step during the pull-down operation-created by moving apartparts of the pull-down device, normally the tensioning fingers—thetension in the folds of the gather foil hood are reduced so that thefolds, in particular those that are not properly oriented, do not retainthe adjacent foils so that the foil hood can be pulled down withoutdamage and in a problem-free manner.

Here the tension reduction to an at least partially reduced lowersetting with correspondingly resulting reduced setting, which is abovethe minimal resulting and/or the reduced setting corresponding to noholding force at all, is determined by the time offset with which thetension reduction takes place.

The higher level of stretching is thus above the tolerance range at thelower level and is as a result substantially greater than the tension atthe lower level. The level of the lower tension that corresponds to theleast stretching is determined not only by the geometry of the one- ormulti-part load. Other parameters also, such as for example thedimensions of the parts of the pull-down apparatus inside the foil hood,influence the amount of the lower level of stretching.

The reduction of stretching to the lower level can start with the firstcontact of the foil with the top of the one- or multi-part load or at alater point during the pull-down operation.

In one possible embodiment of the invention the reduction of stretchingis effected during the pull-down operation of the foil hood over theone- or multi-part load continuously, in particular uniformly.

Alternatively the reduction of stretching is effected during thepull-down operation of the foil hood over the one- or multi-part load insteps, in particular in multiple steps. With a one-step reduction thecomplete pull-down operation is completed before the reduction iscompleted and the foil hood is reduced to the lower level of stretch.

When the one- or multi-part load to be wrapped is particularly tall,there is the danger that before the pull-down operation is complete thetension reduction is completed and the foil hood has reached the levelof minimal stretch. In this case it is preferred that the reduction takeplace in multiple steps.

The reduction of stretching can take place during the first third of thepull-down operation. The pull-down operation thus starts with contactingof the foil hood with the top of the one- or multi-part load.

Preferably the reduction of stretching is effected at a spacing of 5 to20 cm above the one- or multi-part load, preferably at 10 cm above thetop of the one- or multi-part load.

Preferably the foil hood stretched to a great amount in the first stepis at the start of the pull-down operation held by at least one holdingdevice and the holding device is separated from the foil hood in thesecond step with reduction of the stretching to a reduced amount. Duringthe pull-down operation of the foil hood, the foil hood that is highlystretched in the first step is gripped. As a result the foil hood onlyengages the top of the one- or multi-part load, while the sides of theone- or multi-part load do not touch the foil hood. Holding createsvertical tensions in the foil hood. Later during the pull-down operationin the second step the stretch is reduced to a lower level and theholding device is detached from the foil hood, so that the foil hood canbe pulled off one fold at a time.

An embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing.

Therein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tensioning finger with a foil portiongathered on it; and

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the structure of FIG. 1.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

In all the figures the same references are applied to the same orsimilar parts.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pull-down device 1 of an apparatus according to theinvention. An upstream gathering device is not shown. The pull-downdevice 1 has four tensioning fingers 2 that are arranged in respectivecorners of a partially shown one- or multi-part load 3 to be packed.

Each tensioning finger 2 is comprised of an arcuately shaped tubulartensioning element 4 that is oriented in a plane extending perpendicularto a pull-down direction 5.

Each tensioning element 4 is carried on an L-shaped brace element 6 thatis secured at its lower end to a traverse 7 of a mount 8.

As visible in FIG. 1, both ends of the tensioning element 4 areconnected via a respective strut 9 with the brace element 6.

A mast 10 projects upward from the traverse 7. A bearing 11 on this mast10 supports a positioning lever 12 whose free end carries a holdingdevice 14 via another bearing 13. A face of the holding device 14engageable with the tensioning finger 2 is shaped the same as theoutside of the tensioning finger 2. Since the brace element 6 of thetensioning finger 2 in the illustrated embodiment is somewhat arcuate,the holding device 14 has a corresponding arcuate shape. It is howeverperfectly possible that the tensioning finger 2 be provided level withthe tensioning element 4.

The positioning lever 12 is engaged by a cylinder 15 that is shown indot-dash lines in the drawing. This can for example be a pneumatic orhydraulic cylinder.

As shown in particular in FIG. 2 the tensioning finger 2 and also theholding device 14 mounted with it on the traverse 7 are movable alongthe longitudinal faces of the one- or multi-part load 3 (arrows 16 and17). For the movement in the direction of arrow 17, the mount 8 issupported via guides 18 on a guide rail 19. Chains 20 and 21 engagingthe traverse 7 can move the tensioning finger 2 in the direction of thearrow 17.

The guide rail 19 is engaged at its upper end in a support 22 such thatthe pull-down device 1 can move in the direction of the arrow 16. Theexact-construction making movement in the direction of the arrow 16possible is not shown for the sake of clarity of view.

In order that each pull-down device 1 can move in the direction of arrow23 along the one- or multi-part load 3, there is in the illustratedembodiment a hydraulic cylinder 24 engaging underneath the support 22.Other systems for movement in the direction of the arrow 23 arepossible.

As shown in the drawing, the four tensioning fingers 2 are engaged in adownwardly open foil hood 25. The foil hood 25 is already gathered intofolds 26 on the fingers 2. The gathering itself is done in anunillustrated separate gathering device. The foil hood 25 is pulled fromthe gathering device in gathered condition by the illustrated pull-downdevices 1.

After taking on the gathered foil hood 25 each holding device 14 ispivoted in the direction of arrow 27 toward the respective tensioningfinger 2 so that the foil hood 25 is clamped between the brace 6 of thetensioning finger and the respective holding device 14. In order toavoid damage to the foil hood 25, the surfaces engaging the foil hood 25of the holding device 14 have a soft coating 28, e.g. sponge rubber.Other coverings are possible.

After engagement of the holding devices 14 the tensioning fingers 2 aremoved outward, for example diagonally apart as shown by arrow 29 so thatthe foil hood 25 is stretched. The clamping of the foil 25 at its upperregion, in this case at its closed end, ensures optimal stretching.

After stretching, the pull-down device 1 is moved in the pull-downdirection 5 along the one- or multi-part load 3. As soon as the closedtop of the foil hood 25 engages the top of the one- or multi-part load 3the holding devices 14 are moved into the positions illustrated in FIG.2 in dashed lines. With further dropping of the pull-down device 1 thefolds 26 are progressively pulled off the tensioning fingers 2 so that,when the pull-down device 1 reaches its lowermost position, the entirefoil hood 25 has no more folds 26 and surrounds the one- or multi-partload 3.

To then tension and if necessary stretch the foil hood 25 in thepull-down direction 5, shortly before the foil hood 25 is completelypulled off the tensioning fingers 2 the holding devices 14 are movedback into their FIG. 2 solid-line positions so that the foil hood 25 isagain clamped between the holding devices 14 and the respectivetensioning fingers 2.

In this manner the foil hood 25 can be optimally tensioned and stretchedin the pull-down direction 5.

After tensioning and if necessary stretching in the pull-down direction54, the holding devices 14 are swung back and the pull-down device ismoved back opposite the pull-down direction 5 into its original positionshown in FIG. 1 in order to take on another gathered foil hood 25.

If the folds 26 do not form the uniform downward and outward array shownin FIG. 1 after gathering, for a damage-free drawing-off of the foilhood 25 from the tensioning fingers 2 it is necessary that the gatheredfoil hood 25 be stretched to a 20, considerable extent in a first stepfor drawing it over the one- or multi-part load 3 and in a second stepthe stretching of the foil hood 25 during the actual drawing-down stepof the gathered foil hood 25 over the one- or multi-part load 3 isreduced somewhat while still permitting it to be pulled down.

In this manner the foil hood 25 is greatly stretched in the first stepso that in this greatly stretched condition a good gap of some 6 to 20cm is formed between each face of the one- or multi-part load 3 and thegreatly stretched foil 25. More stretching is however perfectlypossible.

As a result of the subsequent reduction of the stretching of the foilhood 25 in the second step during drawing down, the movement of thetensioning fingers 2 along the edges of the one- or multi-part load 3(arrows 16 and 17) reduces the tension in the folds 26 of the gatheredfoil hood 25 so that the folds 26 are not so greatly clamped by theadjacent folds 26 and held with the result that the foil hood 25 can bepulled down without damage or problems.

The reduction of the stretching can take place continuously or in steps,in particular in multiple steps.

In order to produce both the great or higher stretch in the first stepand the lesser (minimal) stretch in the second step in one embodimentone and the same part, e.g. a drive motor, can be used that iscorrespondingly controlled.

Of course it is also possible to use two separate drives as, forexample, two motors or hydraulic cylinders with the one drive producingthe low stretch and the other second drive producing the larger highstretch.

1. An apparatus for wrapping a one- or multi-part load (3) with at leastone elastic foil hood (25) that is gathered into folds (26) andstretched and subsequently pulled over the one- or multi-part load (3),the gathered foil hood (25) being stretched and pulled down by means ofa pull-down device (1) movable along the one- or multi-part load (3),and whereby the pull-down device (1) has four tensioning fingers (2)that are movable in planes perpendicular to a pull-down direction (5)and that each have a bow-shaped tensioning element (43) lying in thisplane and, secured to it, a bow-shaped brace element (6) extendinggenerally in the pull-down direction in order to be able to take on thegathered foil hood (25) in the respective corners of the one- ormulti-part load (3) to be wrapped and to pull it down over the one- ormulti-part load (3), characterized in that at least one of thetensioning fingers (2) is provided with a jaw-like holding device (14)that is engageable shortly before reaching an end position externally atleast partially around in the region of the last fold (26 a) to bepulled over the one- or multi-part load (3) shortly before reaching thepull-down position, in particular in the unfolded region of the foilhood (25) adjacent this fold (26 a), and that clamp the regions of thefoil hood (25) to the tensioning fingers (2) during stretching.
 2. Theapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device(14) has a shape corresponding generally to an outside surface of therespective tensioning finger (2) in a contact region between thetensioning finger (2) and the holding device (14).
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the surface of the holdingdevice (14) engageable with the foil hood (25) is arcuate.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device(14) is movable in a plane perpendicular to the pull-down direction (5).5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the holdingdevice (14) is displaceable by a pivotal positioning lever (12) in thedirection of the respective tensioning finger (2).
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterized in that at least surfaces of theholding device (14) engageable with the foil hood (24) have afriction-increasing surface.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6,characterized in that the surface has a friction-increasing coating(28).
 8. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that thesurface has a soft coating (28), in particular sponge rubber.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the surface hasalternating raised and recessed regions.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 1, characterized in that a separate gathering device is providedfor gathering the foil hood (25).
 11. The apparatus according to claim1, characterized in that surfaces of the holding device (14) engageablewith the foil hood (25) correspond to the minimal contact surface neededto avoid damaging the foil hood (25) during stretching taking intoaccount the technical features and characteristics of the foil hood (25)as well as the amount of stretch.
 12. A method of wrapping a one- ormulti-part load (3) with at least one elastic foil hood (25) that isgathered into folds (26) and stretched and subsequently pulled over theone- or multi-part load (3), the gathered foil hood (25) being stretchedand pulled down by means of a pull-down device (1) movable along theone- or multi-part load (3), and whereby the pull-down device (1) hasfour tensioning fingers (2) that are movable in planes perpendicular toa pull-down direction (5) and that each have a bow-shaped tensioningelement (43) lying in this plane and, secured to it, a bow-shaped braceelement (6) extending generally in the pull-down direction in order tobe able to take on the gathered foil hood (25) in the respective cornersof the one- or multi-part load (3) to be wrapped and to pull it downover the one- or multi-part load (3), characterized in that at least oneof the tensioning fingers (2) is provided with a jaw-like holding device(14) that is engageable shortly before reaching an end positionexternally at least partially around in the region of last fold (26 a)to be pulled over the one- or multi-part load (3) shortly beforereaching the pull-down position, in particular in the unfolded region ofthe foil hood (25) adjacent this fold (26 a), and that clamp the regionsof the foil hood (25) to the tensioning fingers (2) during stretching,at least one holding device (14) being applied with the respectivetensioning finger (2) against the foil hood (25) before stretching ofthe foil hood (25) and being separated from the foil hood (25) aftercontact of the foil hood (25) with the one- or multi-part load (3). 13.The method according to claim 12, characterized in that at least oneholding device (14) after pulling-off of the folds (26) shortly beforeseparation of the foil hood (25) from the holding device (14) is broughtback against the respective tensioning finger (2) to hold the foil hood(25).
 14. A method of wrapping a one- or multi-part load (3) with atleast one elastic foil hood (25) that is gathered into folds (26) andstretched and subsequently pulled over the one- or multi-part load (3),the gathered foil hood (25) being stretched and pulled down by means ofa pull-down device (1) movable along the one- or multi-part load (3),characterized in that the gathered foil hood (25) to be pulled down overthe one- or multi-part load (3) in a first step is stretched to a firstgreat amount and in a second step the stretching of the foil hood (25)during the pull-down operation of the gathered foil hood (25) over theone- or multi-part load (3) is reduced somewhat but still maintainedenough to permit the pulling down.
 15. The method according to claim 14,characterized in that the reduction of stretching is effected during thepull-down operation of the foil hood (25) over the one- or multi-partload (3) continuously, in particular uniformly.
 16. The method accordingto claim 14, characterized in that the reduction of stretching iseffected during the pull-down operation of the foil hood (25) over theone- or multi-part load (3) in steps, in particular in multiple steps.17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that thereduction of stretching takes place during the first third of thepull-down operation.
 18. The method according to claim 17, characterizedin that the reduction of stretching is effected at a spacing of 5 to 20cm above the one- or multi-part load (3), preferably at 10 cm above thetop of the one- or multi-part load (3).
 19. The method according toclaim 14, characterized in that the foil hood (25) stretched to a greatamount in the first step is at the start of the pull-down operation heldby at least one holding device (14) and the holding device (14) isseparated from the foil hood (25) in the second step with reduction ofthe stretching to a reduced amount.